Amma Prempeh calls for investment in kente production in Ghana
In Ghana, journalist, filmmaker and kente ambassador Amma Prempeh called on the authorities and private investors to invest in production infrastructure for the traditional kente fabric. She believes that growing international interest in authentic Ghanaian textiles should become not only a cultural event but also an economic opportunity for local communities.
As MyJoyOnline reports, a new wave of global attention to kente was sparked by the wedding of Bozoma Saint John-Watson and Keely Watson in Ghana, where guests wore formal attire made from this fabric. The event received international media coverage, including in Forbes. Later, the king of the Ashanti people, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, held a major Akwasidae celebration in Washington, which also became a platform for promoting Ashanti culture and kente.
Need for production capacity
Prempeh warned that weavers from Bonwire in the Ashanti Region may be unable to handle large international orders under current production capabilities. According to her, the artisans have exceptional skills and knowledge, but the industry faces problems with access to affordable yarn, modern workshops, equipment and other production infrastructure.
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She noted that Bonwire weavers had already spoken about the need for a local yarn factory and improved workspaces. As a kente ambassador, Prempeh wants to attract an investor to establish such a factory, modern workshops and provide artisans with the necessary resources. In her view, local yarn production would reduce dependence on imports, while workshop modernization could increase productivity without abandoning traditional hand weaving.
Certification and design protection
Prempeh also called for developing Ghana's cotton industry so that cotton would not have to be imported for yarn production. She believes that the development of the kente industry can create jobs in yarn production, fashion, design, tourism, packaging, marketing and exports.
She separately emphasized the need to make full use of the geographical indication status held by Ghanaian kente. Prempeh proposes introducing digital certification: buyers could scan a certificate to verify the fabric's authenticity, its place of origin, design information and, if necessary, information about the weaver or the community of artisans. She also called for protecting kente designs and documenting the knowledge and meanings of traditional patterns.
